Time Schedule:
Robert Crawford
TIAS 515
Tacoma Campus
Analyzes selected themes in the study of modern culture, such as health and medicine, sexuality, consumption, television, advertising, film, literature, art, music, architecture, and social, or cultural history.
Class description
TIAS 515B: Course subtitle: Health and Medical Culture Instructor: Rob Crawford
The pursuit or protection of health has become a key arena of public action and public policy as well as a personal preoccupation, especially among the middle class. Moreover,health is a key word and a root metaphor in modern, secular cultures. Its meanings encompass physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Medical discourse shapes and continually transforms the modern self--life, death, illness and danger. Medical and health practices also influence contemporary understandings of class, gender, race and sexuality. In short, this is a course on culture and ideology through an examination of health and medicine in modern and contemporary culture. Class discussion of readings and term paper.
Student learning goals
familiarity with several approaches to cultural theory and interpretaion
familiarity with critical approaches to understanding health as a meaningful social practice
exploration of sociocultural aspects of embodiment in modern and contemporary culture
familarity with aspects of medical discourse, particularly relevant to health promotion and risk
exploration of contemporary forms of anxiety in cultural context; and how anxieties about health intersect with other contemporary anxieties
explorations of aspects of modern and contemporary cultures through the metaphors and meanings of health
General method of instruction
Seminar discussion and instructor lecture.
Recommended preparation
graduate level course experience; although advanced undergraduates will be admitted to the course. No medical background needed.
Class assignments and grading
Grading based on seminar participation, critical analysis of the readings, and library research term paper.
Normal modes of assessment of student achievement on assignments
